Centrifugal fluid extraction



Sept' 5, 1967 l c T. BERGMAN 3,339,732

CENTRIFUGAL FLUID EXTRACTION Filed May 3l, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l ZM/5m Sept. 5, 1967 c T. BERGMAN CENTRIFUGAL FLUID EXTRACTION 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 3l, 1966 Sept. 5, 1967 c T. BERGMAN CENTRIFUGAL FLUID EXTRACTION 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 3l, 1966 Sept. 5, 1967 C T, BERGMAN 3,339,732

CENTRIFUGAL FLUID EXTRACTION Filed May 3l, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 C/Vln v:

INCREMENTS OF TIMER ADVANCE O I 2O 30 CONTACTS CI,C2

/M/E/v TOR Chf/)m55 Bazn/cw United States Patent O 3,339,732 CEN'IRIFUGAL FLUID EXTRACTION Charles T. Bergman, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 31, 1966, Ser. No. 554,033 6 Claims. (Cl. ZIO-78) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A control circuit and system for preventing fabric adhesion in a combination washer-drier and including auxiliary timing and sequencing means responsive to the main sequence control for effecting a preliminary fluid extraction comprising accelerating to and maintaining operation at a plaster speed followed by deceleration to a tumble or redistribution speed, a secondary fluid extraction atan intermediate speed, and a primary fluid extraction at a high speed. The auxiliary timing and sequencing means is also responsive to excessive unbalance in the rotating fabric container for controlling the rotative speed thereof.

This invention relates to centrifugal extraction of fluids from fabrics in a laundry apparatus and more particularly to a system for improving fluid extraction while insuring the release of the fabrics from the wall of the rotary container following high speed centrifugal extraction.

In centrifugal extractors, it has been found that immediately centrifuging saturated fabrics at the high speeds desirable for maximum fluid extraction causes the fabrics to remain adhered to the wall of the container even after centrifugal rotation has stopped. This may be referred to as residual adhesionand is an undesirable phenomenon. It is particularly important that this condition be avoided in the so-called combination washer-drier apparatus where the centrifugal extraction operation is followed by a heating operation for drying the fabrics.

This residual adhesion problem may be obviated by limiting the speed of extraction or by limiting the period of time during which the extraction is maintained at a high speed. These limitations on the extraction speed and the period of continuous operation at the high extraction speed result in a loss of eicacy in the extraction operation.

It is an object of this invention to achieve effective uid extraction while preventing residual fabric adhesion at the termination of the fluid extraction period.

It is a further object of this invention to achieve effective fluid extraction while preventing residual fabric adhesion by providing a series of centrifugal extractions followed by periods of deceleration to speeds at least as low as the tumbling speed.

It is a further object of this invention to achieve effective fluid extraction while preventing residual fabric adhesion by a method in which high speed extraction is preceded by a preliminary sub-incremental time period of acceleration to a low extraction speed and a secondary incremental time period of acceleration to an intermediate extraction speed with each of the extraction periods followed by a deceleration to a speed at least as low as the tumbling speed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a laundry device having a control system including time delay means operable for effecting an anti-adhesion cycle of operations including a series of centrifugal extractions followed by periods of deceleration to speeds at least as low as the fabric tumbling speed and wherein '3,339,732 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 the time delay means is also operable for controlling the laundry appliance upon sensing an unbalance to return the speed of rotation to a tumbling speed for a predetermined period of time.

The present invention achieves the above objects in a combination washer-drier apparatus operable at a plurality of speeds including tumble, low extraction, intermediate extraction, and high extraction speeds. A time delay system is incorporated into the control circuit for effecting at least one sub-incremental time period of acceleration and deceleration following the rinse operation. These sub-incremental time periods are followed by at least one incremental time period of acceleration to an intermediate extraction speed, deceleration to a speed at least as low as the fabric tumbling speed, and then acceleration to a relatively high extraction speed. The time delay system used for achieving the sub-incremental time periods is also operative during the extraction operation and responsive to unbalance sensing means for effecting deceleration of the rotating container to a lower speed for redistributing the fabrics through a predetermined sub-incremental time period prior to effecting reacceleration of the container toward the extraction speed.

Operation of the device and further objects and advantages thereof will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts through the several views, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a combination washerdrier having a lower portion of the cabinet removed to expose, among other components, the tub supporting means, and a portion of the unbalance control system;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the combination washerdrier of FIGURE l with a portion of the cabinet back removed for showing the drive system of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side view showing a portion of the drive system of the present invention and further including a fragmentary sectional view showing the drum and hub structure of the combination washer-drier;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the unbalance control system;

FIGURE 5 is an electrical schematic diagram showing a portion of the circuit for the combination washerdrier embodying the present invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a chart showing the programmed operation of the sequentially operable switches included in FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, it will be seen that the combination Washer-drier apparatus includes a base frame 10 mounted on a plurality of legs 11. Mounted upon the base frame 10 is a pair of support members 13, 14 which are welded, or securely affixed in some suitable manner, to the base frame 10 to form the major support for the washer-drier unit. The support members 13, 14 have a channel cross section and are substantially triangular in elevational configuration. A pair of 'brackets 15, 16, positioned above the support members 13, 14, are attached to the tub or casing, generally indicated by the arrow 18. These tubmounted brackets 15, 16 are pivotally mounted on the support members 13, 14 by a pair of pivot pins 19, 20 so that the tub 18 may oscillate in an arcuate movement about the pivot pins 19, 20 in response to various forces generated within the tub 18.

The tub 18 is normally maintained in an upright posi'- tion by the two centering springs 21, each of which is connected between the base 10, and the tub 118. A damper leaf spring 23, shown partially in FIGURES land 3, depends from the tub 18 and carries a damper pad 24 in a ball and socket joint at the lower end thereof. The

base frame is provided with an upstanding damper plate frictionally engaged by the damper pad 24. The energy imparted to the tub 18 causes the tub '18 to oscillate about the pivot pins 19, 20 so that energy is absorbed and dissipated by the relatively-movable, frictionallyengaged damper pad 24 and damper plate 25.

The |tub includes a generally cylindrical sidewall 26, and as best shown in FIGURE 3, a pair of spaced rear walls 28 and 29, and a front wall 30. The front and outer rear walls 30 and 28 are connected to the cylindrical sidewall 26 by means of the encompassing flanged hooplike clamp members 31 While the partition wall 2.9l is secured, as by welding, to the sidewall `26.

It will be seen from an inspection of FIGURE 3 that the spaced rear walls 28 and 29 support a tub lbearing assembly, indicated generally by the reference arrow 33. The bearing assembly 33 produces a rigid support with respect to the tub 18 f-or a pair of bearings within the bearing assembly 33` for supporting the main drive shaft 34.

The rear end of the main drive shaft 34 is rigidly connected to the large drive pulley 35 whereas its front end is threaded into the hub 36 of the fabric container 38. The fabric container 3S includes a perforate rear wall 39 rigidly affixed to and cooperating with a spider-like support member 40 to form a double cone support connected to the hub 36 for providing a rigid support for the fabric container 38 on the main drive shaft 34. As apparent from FIGURE 3, the fabric container 38 also includes a perforate cylindrical sidewall 41 carrying clothes elevating vanes 43. The sidewall 41 merges into the short front wall 44 and joins the flanged rear wall 39 in an overlapping relationship.

The front wall 30 of the tub 18 also includes a circular loading opening 45 encircled by one end of a :bellows seal 46. This seal 46 has its opposite end fastened to a similar opening 48 formed in the cabinet 49. The seal 46 includes a number of convolutions 50 permitting movement of the tub 118 relative to the cabinet 49. A rectangular door 51 hinged on the cabinet 49 carries la transparent glass window 53 having a cylindrical portion depending rearwardly through the bellows seal 46 for peripheral engagement with a flexible annular sealing lip 54.

A system for detecting vibra-tions of the tub- 18 and for controlling the rotative speed of the container 38 upon sensing vibrations will now 'be described. Referring again to the mounting system, it is be noted that the rear channel member 14 actually receives and -directly supports the rear pivot pin 20; however, the same is not true as to the connection :between the front channel 13 and the front pivot pin 19. As previously indicated, the front end of the tub is supported on the front tub bracket 15. This bracket .15 is pivotally mounted on the front pivot pin 19. The front pivot pin 19 extends through clearance holes in the legs of the front channel member 13 but the pin 19 is supported by a lever arm 58 nested within the front channel 13. The lever arm 58 is in turn supported on a mounting pin 59 penetrating and supported by the upwardly extending legs of the front channel member 13. The front pivot pin 19 is actually suspended in a oating pivot in the front channel member 13 and, in practice, has a clearance of approximately 1/16 from the closest point of channel 13.

Three forces acting on the lever arm 58 establish a condition of equilibrium about the mounting pin 59 in order to produce the described floating pivot about the front pivot pin 19. The iirst of these is a clock-wise force about the mounting pin 59 and is applied upwardly through a supporting foot 460 located atfthe left end of the lever arm `58 as viewed in FIGURE l. The weight of the tub .18 and the parts supported by that tub provide a second counterclockwise force applied directly to the lever arm 58 through the pivot pin 19. The third force, a balancing force, acts upon lever arm 58 and is exerted by a leaf spring 61 inserted into an opening of the lever arm 58 so as to form an extension of the latter member. Adjusting means is attached between the base frame and the end of the leaf spring and provides means for varying the force exerted downwardly on the leaf spring 61. It may be seen that movement of the front pivot pin 19, caused by substantially vertical movement of the front of the tub 18, pivots the lever arm 58 about the mounting pin 59.

The lever arm 58 carries an actuator 63 on a pin 64 with the actuator 63 positioned so as to be responsive to engagement at one end by a plunger 65 -depending from a lower portion of the tufb 18. It is therefore seen that arcuate movement of the tub 18 about its supporting pins 19, 20 will cause the plunger 65 to engage the actuator 63 and move it in a clockwise direction about the pin 64. Likewise, an upward movement of the left end of the lever member 58, as viewed in FIGURE l, will lift the actuator 63 upwardly.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, a mounting bracket 68 is shown attached to the base frame 10 for supporting, at a pivot point 69, a movable lever 70 carrying a depending plunger 71 at one end thereof and switch means 73 at the other end thereof. Also supported by the stationary bracket is an auxiliary timing motor 74 which drives a star wheel cam 75 engageable with the operating lever 76 of switch 73.

Upon movement of the actuator 63, either pivotally or upwardly with the lever member 58, as previously explained, the plunger 71 is moved upwardly to pivot the movable lever 70 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot point 69 and to move the switch operating lever 76 downwardly away from the star wheel 75 so as to allow the switch operating lever 76 to move to a released position. The switch means 73 includes a pair of single-pole double-throw switch members 78 and 79, as shown in the circuit of FIGURE 5, and is operable for energizing at least one circuit portion as will be described hereinafter. The auxiliary timing motor 74 is energized upon operation Iof the switch means 73 and remains energized until decreased tub movement allows the spring 80 to retain the movable lever 70 in its normal position and until the star wheel 7-5 is driven to the position at which it again moves the switch operating lever 76 to the actuated position. From the above description, it will be understood that whenever an unbalance load condition exists lwi-thin the tub 18, the unbalance sensing mechanism will be actuated Iby either an arcuate movement of the tube 18 or by a small, substantially vertical movement of the front end of the tub 18 to effect a change in the condition of energization of the washer-drier unit as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Also to be described in greater detail hereinafter is the use of a portion of this unbalance control system, specically the switch 73 and the auxiliary timing means 74, for effecting a preliminary anti-adhesion sequence of operations for preventing residual fabric adhesion to the wall of the fabric container.

More specific details of construction of this unbalance control system may be found in United States Patent 3,084,799, issued to P. S. Decatur on April 9, 1963 and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

A combination blower condenser unit capable of mov ing air through the tub 18, scrubbing lint from this air, and condensing moisture from hot vapors formed within the tub during the drying operation, is positioned within the compartment formed by and between portions of the spaced rear walls 28 and 29. The compartment for the blower condenser unit is produced by cooperation of the rear walls 28 and 29 with an imperforate scroll-shaped sidewall 83, shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 2, and bridging the space between the rear walls 28 and 29. Water for the condensing operation is directed onto the impeller (not shown) positioned behind a removable plate 84 and driven by a blower pulley 85.

Provision is made in the instant washer and drier combination for supplying water for the washing operation and for accumulating washing fluids in a lower recessed sump portion 86 of the tub 18. The sump 86 receives the washing fluid from the tub 18 and also receives from the blower condenser compartment the condensing iiuid and the condensate and lint removed from the air entering the blower condenser unit. Fluids and lint entering the sump 86 are discharged through a pump 88 to an external drain. A valve (not shown), controlled by a solenoid 89, is positioned between the pump 88 and the external drain to control the periods of time fluids are discharged to the external drain. The pump 88 is driven during washing operations through a motor pulley 90; however, the solenoid 89 is de-energized during the washing operation to maintain the valve closed and the uid within the tub 18.

Though not shown, heating means are provided within this combination washer-drier and are capable of radiating heat energy into and through the tub for effecting a drying operation of the fabrics following the washing operation.

More specific details of construction of this blower condenser unit, the aforementioned bearing assembly, the fluid inlet and draining system, and the heating means may be found in United States Patent 2,986,917, issued to T. R. Smith on J une 6, 1961 and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

Power to rotate the fabric container 38 is supplied by a drive system including a two-speed motor 93, a pair of alternate speed reduction pulley assemblies indicated generally by the arrows 94 and 95, belt shifting means 96, and power transmission means including a plurality of belts 98, 99, and 100. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, this drive system is operable for providing a plurality of speeds of rotation of the fabric container 38 so as to achieve an optimum fabric treatment cycle. Specifically, this drive system is operable for providing a relatively slow tumble speed for accomplishing washing operation, a low extraction speed for effecting arrangement and plastering of the fabrics around the inner periphery of the container and removing a portion of the retained fluid from the fabrics, an intermediate extraction speed for removing a larger portion of the retained uid from the fabrics, and a relatively high speed spin for accomplishing the primary centrifugal uid extraction. It is noted that the low extraction speed is below the critical speed of the unit, or below that speed at which oscillatory vibrations of a tub having at least one degree of freedom are maximized due, at least in part, to resonance effect.

The two-speed motor 93 is operable at 1725 and 1150 r.p.m. The motor 93 is adjustably and pivotally supported from the wall 26 of the tub 18 and biased in a clockwise direction around the pivot 101 by the adjustable spring 103. A shaft extension 104 from one end of the motor 93, supports the pulley 90 drivingly coupled to a round stretch belt 105 for driving the drain pump 88 as viewed in FIG- URE l. A shaft 106 extending from the opposite end of the motor 93, as viewed in FIGURE 2, carries a pair of pulleys 108 and 109 lixedly mounted thereon. The smaller pulley 108 ofthe pair drives the primary drive belt 98, in turn connected to one of the pair of speed reduction pulley assemblies 94 or 95. The larger motor driven pulley 109 is drivingly engaged by the blower pulley belt 110.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the speed reduction pulley assemblies 94 and 95 are connected to the drive motor 93 through the small motor-driven pulley 108 and the primary drive belt 98. The first pulley assembly 94 comprises a large pulley 113 and an attached small pulley 114 and may be considered as the tumble pulley assembly 94. The spin pulley assembly 95, located closest to rthe tub 18, includes a large pulley 115 and an attached small pulley 116. The tumble pulley assembly 94 and the spin pulley assembly 95 are adjacently mounted on a common jackshaft 118 for relative rotation to each other. The

two large pulley members 113 and 115 are of substantially equal diameter and are closely spaced to facilitate shifting of the primary drive belt 98 between the drive grooves of the two pulleys.

The jackshaft 118 is carried by a pair of supporting arms 119 and 120 that are in turn pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 121 supported at its extreme ends by a pair of brackets 122 and 123 fixed to the exterior sidewall 26 of the tub 18.

The rear supporting arm supports a flange bracket 124 for pivotally mounting a belt shifting lever 125 having a pair of legs 126 depending therefrom at one end astride the primary drive belt 98. A linkage 128 is pivotally and adjustably connected to the other end of the belt shifting lever and is controlled by a selectively energizible solenoid 129 for operating the shifting lever 125 to move the primary drive belt 98 between the pair of large drive pulleys 113 and 115. The solenoid 129 is securely mounted on the exterior Wall 26 of the tub 18 and upon energization thereof, the lever 125 moves the primary drive belt 98 from the large tumble pulley 113 to the large spin pulley 115. A tension spring member 130 biases the belt shifting lever 125 for moving the primary drive belt 98 from the large spin pulley 115 to the large tumble pulley 113 upon de-energization of the solenoid 129.

The jackshaft 118 is biased in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 121 by spring 131, as best seen in FIGURE l, to effect proper tensioning of the secondstage tumble belt 99. The second-stage spin lbelt 100 is tensioned by an idler assembly 133 comprising an idler pulley 134 biased by a leaf spring 135 attached between the idler pulley 134 and a bracket 136 adjustably mounted on the back wall 28 of the tub 18. This system of belt tensioning provides for proper belt tensions and acceleration rates during increasing speeds and provides, with proper location of the pivot pin 121, for effective control of deceleration to avoid severe torque reaction upon deenergization of the driving means.

The main drive pulley 35 includes a first V-groove 138 for receiving the second-stage tumble belt 99 from the small tumble pulley 114 and, at a smaller diameter, includes a second V-groove 139' for receiving the secondstage spin belt 100` from the small spin pulley 116.

Itis therefore seen that a pair of alternate drive paths are established between the motor 93 and the container 38. The first path is from the motor 93 through the primary drive belt 98 4to the large tumble pulley 113, and through the small tumble pulley 114 and the second-stage tumble belt 99 to the large diameter groove 138 of the main drive pulley 35. This drive path .provides a relatively high-ratio speed reduction operable with the motor running at 1150 r.p.m. for driving the container at a fabric tumbling speed of 50 r.p.m. and operable with the motor running at 1725 r.p.m. for driving the container at a low extraction speed of 75 r.p.m.

The second drive -path is established from the motor 93 through the primary drive belt 98 to the large spin pulley'115, and through lthe small spin pulley 11-6 and the second-stage spin belt 100 to the small diameter groove 139 of the main drive pulley 35. This drive path provides a relatively low-ratio speed reduction and is operable with the motor running at 1150 r.p.m. for driving the container at an intermediate extraction speed of 200 r.p.m. and operable with the motor running at 1725 .r.p.m. for driving the container at a relatively high extraction speed of 300 r.p.m.

Referring now-to FIGURE 5, an electrical circuit diagram shows schematically the components and circuitry included in the preferred embodiment of the instant invention.

The electr-ical circuit, connected between lines L1 and L2, may be completely de-energized upon opening either the start switch 143 or door-operated switch 144 under control of the operator. The combination washer-drier unit is controlled by a sequence control mechanism which is shown partially, and schematically, in the electrical circuit of FIGURE 5. The sequence control mechanism is of a conventional construction and includes a plurality of switches, represented by the contacts C1 through C13 which operate in pairs as shown in FIGURE 5. Operating means in ythe form of cams close each of these pairs of contacts in a predetermined sequence. Referring to FIG- URE 6, there is shown a sequence chart for the above referenced :Contact pairs where the shaded areas indicate portions of the cycle during which specific contact pairs are closed. In this embodiment, an increment of timer advance represents a time period of one minute.

The advancement of the cams and thus the operation of the contact pairs are under control of a timing motor 145 operable for advancing the series of cams at a slow timing speed. Energization of the timing motor 145 is through a pair of contacts C1, C2 or through a pressure switch 146 operative to a contact 148 responsive to a predetermined level of the fluid within the washing container 38.

The drive system, as previously indicated, includes a two-speed motor 93 and a solenoid 129 for shifting the primary drive belt 98. The drive motor 93 is connected between lines L1 and M with line L3 being connected to line L2 through the timer contact pair C3, C4 and through the start switch 143 and door switch 144. The motor 93 includes the start windings 150 in series with a centrifugal switch 151 and a capacitor 153. A second portion of the motor circuit includes a four-pole run winding 154 and a centrifugally operated winding selection switch 155 made to contact 156. A third portion of the motor circuit includes a six-pole run winding 158 connectable with the winding selection switch 155 at normally open contact 159. The centrifugal switch 151 is operable to an open position at a predetermined switching speed of the motor 93 and is linked to the winding selection switch 155 so as to operate the switch 155 from connection with the fourpole winding 154 to connection with a sixpole winding 158 at the predetermined switching.

The main drive motor 93 is under control of the tumble switch 78 having a first contact 160 connected to the fourpole winding` at contact 156 and a second contact 161 connected to the centrifugal switch `151 and winding selection switch 155. The tumble switch 78 is in turn connected to contact C9. Contact C11 is connected to the six-pole winding 158 through winding selection switch 155 made to contact 159 for selectively bypassing the tumble sw-itch 78. Contact C10, selectively engageable with contact C9 or C11, is connected to line La. The tumble switch 78 is operated for completing a circuit through the rst contact 160` when the switch operating lever 76 is in the actuated position as shown in FIG- URE 4.

The belt shifting solenoid 129 is connected between lines L1 and L3 by a circuit which includes the pressure switch 146 made to a second contact 163 at a predetermined lower fluid level, through a switch designated as the spin control switch 79 made to a first contact 164 and through timer Contact pair C5, C6. The spin control switch 79 is controlled by the :auxiliary timing means 74 and is closed to the first contact 164 when the switch operating lever 76 is in the actuated position as shown in FIGURE 4.

The auxiliary timing motor 74 is connected between lines L1 and L3 in series with a timer contact pair C12, C13 for providing selective energization of the timing motor 74 during the aforementioned anti-adhesion sequence following the final rinse. The auxiliary timing motor 74 may also be energized by a circuit through the pressure switch 146 made to the second contact 163 and through the spin switch 79 made to the second contact 165 upon operation of the unbalance sensing means as previously indicated. The speed of the auxiliary timing motor 74 is one-half rpm. in the preferred embodiment 8 for providing a 30-second time delay between each of the lobes Iof the start wheel 75.

The drain solenoid 89, controlling the period of time during which fluid is drained from the tub, is connected between lines L1 and L3 in series with a contact pair C7, C8.

The electrical circuit as shown in FIGURE 5 and controlled by the timer earns with a program as indicated in FIGURE 6 is operable for controlling the washendrier apparatus through a series of operations comprising the major divisions of wash, rinse, spin dry, and tumble dry. The instant invention is specifically directed to unbalance control during high speed extraction and to an anti-adhesion sequence of operations following the nal rinse for preventing residual adhesion of fabrics upon completion of the high speed spin. A consideration of the circuit of FIGURE 5 taken in conjunction with the program control of FIGURE 6 will show that the particular portion of the cycle to which the instant invention is directed includes the following:

Increment Operation Performed Container Speed (rpm.)

Low speed extraction. High speed extraction 300 Low speed extraction. 75 High speed extraction 300 Preliminary anti-adhesion:

Low speed extraction (7.5 seconds). 75 Tumble (15 seconds) 50 Low speed extraction (15 seconds) 75 Tumble (15 seconds) 50 Low speed extraction 5 seconds) 75 Low speed extraction 75 Intermediate speed extraction 200 Pause 0 Tumble 50 Low speed extraction. 75 High speed extraction 300 Tumble 50 Low speed extraction. 75 High speed extraction 300 Pause 0 It is believed that one skilled in the art is able to understand the details of the electrical circuit of FIG- URE 5 when considered in view of the above listed portions of the cycle of operation and in view of the switching as shown in FIGURE 6. However, certain of the operations, more closely related to the instant invention will be explained in detail hereinafter.

Following selection of the desired cycle of operations by the operator and the closing of the door 51 and the closing of the start switch 143, the timing motor is energized iirst through the pressure switch 146 and then through contacts C1, C2 for advancing the sequence control mechanism through the washing portion of the cycle of operation and into the rst tiuid extraction operation beginning specifically in increment 21. During this increment, contacts C7, C8 are closed for energizing the drain solenoid 89 to effect draining of the fluid from the tub 18. Contact C10 is closed to contact C9 for energizing the motor 93 through the four-pole winding 154 for operation at 1725 r.p.m. and through the tumble switch for effecting rotation of the container 38 at 75 r.p.m. The motor 93 is energized by a circuit from power line L1 through the connecting line 168, the four-pole run winding 154, the tumble switch 78 made to contact 160, and through contact C9, C10 to the line La. As the timer is advanced one increment, contact C5 is closed to contact C6 for energizing the belt shifting solenoid 129. The energizing circuit between power line L1 and L3 includes the pressure switch 146 made to contact 163, the spin switch 79 made to contact 164, and closed timer contacts C5, C6. Energization of the solenoid 129 affects shifting of the belt 98 from the large tumble pulley 113 to the large spin pulley and acceleration of the container to 300 r.p.rn. The operation of this machine for effecting a low extraction speed of 75 r.p.m. and a high extraction speed of 300 r.p.m. as indicated for increments 21 and 9 22 is followed by a rinse operation and then repeated in increments 26 and 27.

During the high speed extraction periods, the machine is subject to excessive vibration because of unbalanced loading of materials within the rotating container 38. The unbalance control system is operative during these periods for effecting a decrease in speed upon sensing a predetermined unbalance of forces generated within the container 38. If such an unbalance is present, the movable lever 70, as seen in FIGURE 4, is pivoted about the pivot point 69 for moving the switch operating lever 76 away from the star wheel 75 and thus effecting operation of the switch means 73. This operation of the switch means 73 moves the spin switch 79 from contact 164 to contact 165 and moves the tumble switch 78 from contact 160 to contact 161 at substantially the same time. This actuation effects de-energization of the shifting solenoid 129 and energization of the auxiliary timing motor 74 while also effecting the decrease in motor speed from 1725 r.p.m. to 1150 r.p.m. The net result is that the rotational speed of Ithe container 38 decreases from the speed at which an unbalance is sensed to a tumble speed of approximately 50 r.p.m. The motor 93 may be energized for rotation of the container 38 at 50 r.p.m. by a circuit from L1 to L3 as follows: through line 168, six-pole windings 158, winding selection switch 155 made to contact 159, tumble switch made to contact 161 and through timer contacts C9, C10. Rot-ation of the star wheel 75 effects reactuation of the switch means 73 so as to sequentially operate rst the tumble switch 78 from contact 161 to contact 160 after an approximate 22.5 second time delay to effect an increase in speed from 50 r.p.m. to 75 r.p.m. and then to operate the spin switch 79 from contact 165 to contact 164 after a second time delay of approximately 7.5 seconds to effect de-energization of the auxiliary timing motor 74 and to effect energization ofthe belt shifting solenoid 129 so as to increase speed from 75 r.p.m. toward a higher extraction speed. The redistribution effected during the tumbling operation and the removal of previously retained fluids assist in effecting a higher speed of extraction than that at which the first unbalance was sensed. This unbalance control is also operative as previously indicated during the final uid extraction portion which specifically includes increments 33, 34, 37, 38-40,v42, and 43-46.

As previously indicated, the problem of residual fabric adhesion following the final high speed centrifugal fluid extraction is substantially eliminated by the instant invention. The method, or system, used to achieve this improvement includes a preliminary anti-adhesion cycle occurring during increment 32 and including a relatively low speed fluid extraction portion. During this increment, the auxiliary timing motor 74 is continuously energized through contacts C12, C13 for effecting a cycling oper- -ation of the tumble switch 78 and spin switch 79 components of the switch means 73. Contacts C5, C6 are open during increment 32 and therefore the operation of spin switch 79 does not effect changes in the energization of the drive system. During this increment, however, the tum-ble switch 78 is operated between contacts 160 and 161 to effect, alternately, periods of operation at the low extraction speed and at the tumble speed.

At the beginning of the one minute increment, the tumble switch 78 is made to contact 160 for effecting energization of the motor at 1725 r.p.m. and rotation of the container at a 75 r.p.m. low extraction speed. After approximately 7% seconds of energization of the auxiliary timing motor 74, the switch 78 is operated from contact 160 to contact 161 for returning the speed of the motor to 1150 r.p.m. and the speed of the container to a 50 r.p.m. fabric tumbling speed. After l5 seconds at 50 r.p.m., the speed is returned to 75 r.p.m. for l5 seconds, followed by an additional 15 seconds at 50 r.p.m., and followed in turn by 7.5 seconds at the 75 r.p.m. low extraction speed. During this cyclic energization between 50 and 75 r.p.m., the free water within the container is substantially removed before the beginning 0f the 15- second period of low extraction speed so that a portion of the retained water is removed from the fabrics during the 15-second period of low extraction. This sub-incremental period of low speed extraction is not suggested in prior anti-adhesion -systems and is effective for achieving removal of a sufficient portion of retained water to permit subsequent extraction at higher extraction speeds. It also helps to avoid problems of unbalance during subsequent, higher speed, fluid extractions since a portion of the retained fluids of unbalanced fabrics has been removed at -a speed below the critical speed at which unbalance problems are greatest.

Following this preliminary anti-adhesion sequence, the auxiliary timing motor 74 is de-energized during increment 33 to continue the low extraction speed of 75 r.p.m. for effecting further fluid removal and for arranging the clothes around the inner periphery of the container and cause them to become plastered thereto. Upon advancement of the timer mechanism into increment 34, contacts C5, C6 are closed for energizing the shifting solenoid 129 to effect operation of the container at 200 r.p.m. This intermediate speed extraction is maintained through the 34th increment for removing additional fluid from the fabrics. It is noted that this intermediate speed at 200 r.p.m. for a one-minute period of time would cause or result in residual fabric adhesion following termination thereof if this secondary fluid extraction operation had not been preceded by the preliminary fluid extraction operation performed during the 32nd increment. The oneminute period of intermediate speed extraction is followed by a pause period during which the container 38 comes to a stop for allowing fabrics to fall free from the contaner wall 41. The pause is followed by high speed extraction for completing the fluid extraction operation. It is noted that extended operation at the high extraction speed of 30() r.p.m. during either of the last two spin periods would cause residual adhesion if not preceded by the preliminary and secondary extractions.

Thus it is seen that an improved anti-adhesion sequence of operations is provided by the instant invention. This improved cycle of operations having a preliminary shortduration, low-speed extraction is provided, furthermore, by the use of components already required for unbalance control of the apparatus. It is also seen that the improved anti-adhesion sequence of operations is secured simply and economically to provide improved fluid extraction while obviating residual fabric adhesion following the high speed fluid extraction.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, althrough specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1, The method of centrifugally extracting fluids from fabrics while substantially obviating residual fabric adhesion in a laundry apparatus having a container revoluble about a non-vertical axis and controlled through a cycle of operations by sequencing means to provide a plurality of speeds including fabric tumbling and fluid extraction speeds, comprising the steps of: effecting a preliminary extraction of fluid from saturated fabrics including accelerating to and maintaining operation at a relatively low extraction speed, said preliminary extraction being effected below at least one of the variables of speed and period at which fabrics normally continue to adhere to the wall of said container after said fabric tumbling speed is resumed, said low extraction speed being above the minimum speed at which fabrics become arranged around the inner periphery of the container and plastered thereto and below the critical operating speed of said laundry apparatus; decelerating said container from said low extraction speed tow-ard a lower speed not greater than said tumbling speed for permitting said fabrics to fall free of the wall of said container; effecting a secondary fluid extraction including accelerating to and maintaining operation at an intermediate extraction speed, said secondary uid extraction being effected above said minimum adhesion speed and period at which fabrics normally continue to adhere to the wall of said container after said tumbling speed is resumed when said secondary fluid extraction is not preceded by said preliminary extraction; effecting a second deceleration of said container for permitting said fabrics to fall free of the wall of said container, said preliminary and said intermedi-ate extractions and said deceleration toward said lower speed being effective for achieving removal of a portion of retained fluid from said fabrics while effecting release of said fabrics from the w-all of said container prior to high speed fluid extraction to substantially obviate residual fabric adhesion following the subsequent high speed fluid extraction; and effecting a primary fluid extraction including accelerating to and rotating said container at a relatively high uid extraction speed for removing additional fluids from said fabrics.

2. A method of centrifugally extracting fluids from fabrics while substantially obviating residual fabric adhesion in a laundry apparatus as dened in claim 1 including advancing said sequencing means through a plurality of predetermined time increments `and wherein said preliminary fluid extraction is maintained for a subincremental time period and said secondary fluid extraction is maintained for a time period of at least incremental duration.

3, A method of centrifugally extracting fluids from fabrics while substantially obviating residual fabric adhesion in a laundary apparatus as defined in claim 1 including advancing said sequencing means through a plurality of predetermined time increments and wherein said preliminary uid extraction includes a plurality of sub-incremental time periods of acceleration to and operation at said low extraction speed and wherein each of said periods of low speed extraction is followed by a sub-incremental time period of deceleration to said lower speed.

4. A rnethod of centrifugally extracting uids from fabrics while substantially obviating residual fabric adhesion in a laundry apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said secondary fluid extraction is immediately preceded by an additional period of operation maintained at said low extraction speed for distributing fabrics within said container prior to acceleration to said intermediate extraction speed.

5. A method of centrifugally extracting fluids from fabrics while substantially obviating residual fabric adhesion in a laundry apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said preliminary fluid extraction is preceded by the step of draining unretained washing fluid from the container.

6. In a laundry apparatus operable through a series of operations including a lluid extraction, the combination comprising: a support; a casing movably mounted on said support; a fabric container revolubly mounted within said casing on a non-vertical axis and adapted to receive fabrics; drive means for rotating said container at a plurality of speeds including -a fabric tumbling speed, a relatively low extraction speed, and at least one higher extraction speed, said low extraction speed being below and said higher extraction speed being above the adhesion speed at which fabrics normally continue to adhere to the wall of said container after said fabric tumbling speed is resumed; a circuit means incl-uding sequencing means operable through a series of predetermined time increments for controlling said laundry apparatus through said series of operations; unbalance control means responsive to unbalanced fabric loading in said container for controlling the speed of said container and including means for sensing said unbalanced loading, switch means responsive to said sensing means for altering the energization of said drive means, and auxiliary timing means selectively energizable upon sensing an unbalance for effecting a predetermined time delay following actuation of said switch means; a rst circuit portion included in said circuit means in parallel to said switch means for bypassing said switch means and energizing said auxiliary timing means independently of said switch rneans upon initiation of a preselected one of said time increments prior to said extraction operation; and switch operating means associated with said auxiliary timing means for controlling actuation of said switch means to energize said drive means through a preliminary fluid extraction including at least one short predetermined time period of acceleration to and operation at said low extraction speed for removing a portion of the retained uid from the fabrics followed by deceleration to and operation at said tumbling speed for effecting release of said fabrics from said container wall prior to a primary fluid extraction at said higher extraction speed to prevent residual fabric adhesion following said higher speed extraction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,760,639 8/1956 Haverstock 210-78 X 3,055,203 9/1962 Toma 68-24 X 3,084,799 4/1963 Decatur 210--144 3,102,407 9/ 1963 Stilwell 68-24 X 3,116,243 12/1963 Khan et al. 210-78 3,148,523 9/1964 Kownurko et al. 68-24 X 3,172,278 3/1965 Burkland 210-78 X 3,186,104 6/ 1965 Stilwell 68--24 X 3,194,398 7/1965 Pecho 210-78 3,226,960 1/ 1966 Mellinger 210-144 X 3,235,082 2/1966 Comparis 210-78 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,340,371 9/1963 France.

REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

D. RIESS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF CENTRIFUGALLY EXTRACTING FLUIDS FROM FABRICS WHILE SUBSTANTIALLY OBVIATING RESIDUAL FABRIC ADHESION IN A LAUNDRY APPARATUS HAVING A CONTAINER REVOLUBL ABOUT A NON-VERTICAL AXIS AND CONTROLLED THROUGH A CYCLE OF OPERATIONS BY SEQUENCING MEANS TO PROVIDE A PLURALITY OF SPEEDS INCLUDING FABRIC TUMBLING AND FLUID EXTRACTION SPEEDS, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: EFFECTING A PRELIMINARY EXTRACTION OF FLUID FROM SATURATED FABRICS INCLUDING ACCELERATING TO AND MAINTAINING OPERATION AT A RELATIVELY LOW EXTRACTION SPEED, SAID PRELIMINARY EXTRACTION BEING EFFECTED BELOW AT LEAST ONE OF THE VARIABLES OF SPEED AND PERIOD AT WHICH FABRICS NORMALLY CONTINUE TO ADHERE TO THE WALL OF SAID CONTAINER AFTER SAID FABRIC TUMBLING SPEED IS RESUMED, SAID LOW EXTRACTION SPEED BEING ABOVE THE MINIMUM SPEED AT WHICH FABRICS BECOME ARRANGED AROUND THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE CONTAINER AND PLASTERED THERETO AND BELOW THE CRITICAL OPERATING SPEED OF SAID LAUNDRY APPARATUS; DECELERATING SAID CONTAINER FROM SAID LOW EXTRACTION SPEED TOWARD A LOWER SPEED NOT GREATER THAN SAID TUMBLING SPEED FOR PERMITTING SAID FABRICS TO FALL FREE OF THE WALL OF SAID CONTAINER; EFFECTING A SECONDARY FLUID EXTRACTION INCLUDING ACCELERATING TO AND MAINTAINING OPERATION AT AN INTERMEDIATE EXTRACTION SPEED, SAID SECONDARY FLUID EXTRACTION BEING EFFECTED ABOVE SAID MINIMUM ADHESION SPEED AND PERIOD AT WHICH FABRICS NORMALLY CONTINUE TO ADHERE TO THE WALL OF SAID CONTAINER AFTER SAID TUMBLING SPEED IS RESUMED WHEN SAID SECONDARY FLUID EXTRACTION IS NOT PRECEDED BY SAID PRELIMINARY EXTRACTION; EFFECTING A SECOND DECELERATION OF SAID CONTAINER FOR PERMITTING SAID FABRICS TO FALL FREE OF THE WALL OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID PRELIMINARY AND SAID INTERMEDIATE EXTRACTIONS AND SAID DECELERATION TOWARD SAID LOWER SPEED BEING EFFECTIVE FO RACHIEVING REMOVAL OF A PORTION OF RETAINED FLUID FROM SAID FABRICS WHILE EFFECTING RELEASE OF SAID FABRICS FROM THE WALL OF SAID CONTAINER PRIOR TO HIGH SPEED FLUID EXTRACTION TO SUBSTANTIALLY OBVIATE RESIDUAL FABRIC ADHESION FOLLOWING THE SUBSEQUENT HIGH SPEED FLUID EXTRACTION; AND EFFECTING A PRIMARY FLUID EXTRACTION INCLUDING ACCELERATING TO AND ROTATING SAID CONTAINER AT A RELATIVELY HIGH FLUID EXTRACTION SPEED FOR REMOVING ADDITIONAL FLUIDS FROM SAID FABRICS.
 6. IN A LAUNDRY APPARATUS OPERABLE THROUGH A SERIES OF OPERATIONS INCLUDING A FLUID EXTRACTION, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A SUPPORT; A CASING MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT; A FABRIC CONTAINER REVOLUBLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CASING ON A NON-VERTICAL AXIS AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE FABRICS; DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CONTAINER AT A PLURALITY OF SPEEDS INCLUDING A FABRIC TUMBLING SPEED, A RELATIVELY LOW EXTRACTION SPEED, AND AT LEAST ONE HIGHER EXTRACTION SPEED, SAID LOW EXTRACTION SPEED BEING BELOW AND SAID HIGHER EXTRACTION SPEED BEING ABOVE THE ADHESION SPEED AT WHICH FABRICS NORMALLY CONTINUE TO ADHERE TO THE WALL OF SAID CONTAINER AFTER SAID FABRIC TUMBLING SPEED IS RESUMED; A CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING SEQUENCING MEANS OPERABLE THROUGH A SERIES OF PREDETERMINED TIME INCREMENTS FOR CONTROLLING SAID LAUNDRY APPARATUS THROUGH SAID SERIES OF OPERATIONS; UNBALANCE CONTROL MEANS RESPONSIVE TO UNBALANCED FABRIC LOADING IN SAID CONTAINER FOR CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF SAID CONTAINER AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR SENSING SAID UNBALANCED LOADING, SWITCH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID SENSING MEANS FOR ALTERING THE ENERGIZATION OF SAID DRIVE MEANS, AND AUXILIARY TIMING MEANS SELECTIVELY ENERGIZABLE UPON SENSING AN UNBALANCE FOR EFFECTING A PREDETERMINED TIME DELAY FOLLOWING ACTUATION OF SAID SWITCH MEANS; A FIRST CIRCUIT PORTION INCLUDED IN SAID CIRCUIT MEANS IN PARALLEL TO SAID SWITCH MEANS FOR BYPASSING SAID SWITCHING MEANS AND ENERGIZING SAID AUXILIARY TIMING MEANS INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID SWITCH MEANS UPON INITIATION OF A PRESELECTED ONE OF SAID TIME INCREMENTS PRIOR TO SAID EXTRACTION OPERATION; AND SWITCH OPERATING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID AUXILIARY TIMING MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ACTUATION OF SAID SWITCH MEANS TO ENERGIZE SAID DRIVE MEANS THROUGH A PRELIMINARY FLUID EXTRACTION INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE SHORT PREDETERMINED TIME PERIOD OF ACCELERATION TO AND OPERATION AT SAID LOW EXTRACTION SPEED FOR REMOVING A PORTION OF THE RETAINED FLUID FROM THE FABRICS FOLLOWED BY DECELERATION TO AND OPERATION AT SAID TUMBLING SPEED FOR EFFECTING RELEASE OF SAID FABRICS FROM SAID CONTAINER WALL PRIOR TO A PRIMARY FLUID EXTRACTION AT SAID HIGHER EXTRACTION SPEED TO PREVENT RESIDUAL FABRIC ADHESION FOLLOWING SAID HIGHER SPEED EXTRACTION. 